Julian Assange should have the "courage" to face court after losing his latest bid to have his UK arrest warrant dropped, a judge has said.

Assange's legal team had claimed it was no longer in the public interest to pursue him for failing to answer bail as he fought extradition to Sweden in 2012.

But in a ruling at Westminster Magistrates' Court, Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot said Assange believed he was "above the normal rules of law" and arresting him was a "proportionate response".

"Defendants on bail up and down the country, and requested persons facing extradition, come to court to face the consequences of their own choices," the judge said.

"He should have the courage to do the same."

She added: "He appears to consider himself above the normal rules of law and wants justice only if it goes in his favour."

After the ruling, Assange said he "surprised" at the decision and claimed the judgment contained "factual errors".

Statement on ruling: We are surprised. Judge went well outside what the parties presented in court. This seems to have led to many factual errors in the judgment. US DoJ confirmed to Reuters again yesterday that its case is ongoing. There are 3 months to appeal judge's decision.